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Jewish Vandal Held in Custody Pending Court Appearance Jan. 10

December 13, 1985
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Gary Dworkin, arrested for allegedly throwing rocks through the windows of 21 Jewish-owned shops in the Boro Park and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn last month, is in custody at the Anna M. Kross detention center on Rikers Island pending a court appearance on January 10, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed today by the Department of Corrections and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

Dworkin, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday, apparently failed to make the $5,000 bail set by Judge Steven Fisher. The 38-year-old Jewish resident of Boro Park was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination at Kings County Hospital and to appear in court January 10 at which time various motions will be heard, according to a spokesperson at the DA’s office.

He was charged with 13 counts of criminal mischief, including felonies and misdemeanors and one count of discrimination. Brooklyn DA Elizabeth Holtzman explained in a statement released at Dworkin’s arraignment that his alleged rock-throwing was directed at Israelis and Hasidic Jews which is a violation of their civil rights.

“Vandalism directed against a particular group because of religion, race or national origin is unacceptable and must be dealt with appropriately,” Holtzman’s statement said.

Dworkin was arrested last Monday after a four-week police investigation of the rock-throwing incidents which occurred during the nights of November 9 and November 23. Capt. Donald Bromberg, commander of the Police Department bias unit which was assigned to the case because of its anti-Semitic implications, said after the arrest that Dworkin “has a history of psychological problems.”

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